7289 acres of prime land in Hyderabad 'missing', may be secretly sold

The present estimated value of this missing land is about Rs 25,000 crore. Ironically , many even in the Nizam's family are unaware of the exact location of these land parcelsSyed Akbar | TNN | Updated: July 05, 2017, 15:17 IST

The 'missing' land is spread over prime localities within and outside city limits like Pahadi Sharif, Ravurial, Gachibowli, Mangalaram, Ibrahimpatnam, Saidabad, Shaikpet, Balapur, Mahbubguda, and Uppal, according to `Blue Book' (official document containing the landed properties etc of the Nizam VII, Mir Osman Ali Khan).

The present estimated value of this missing land is about Rs 25,000 crore. Ironically , many even in the Nizam's family are unaware of the exact location of these land parcels.

A perusal of the old government records and the `Blue Book' reveals that the Nizam owned 23,253 acres of pasture or grasslands known as `Kancha' in local parlance. The then Hyderabad state acquired 15,964 acres in March 1956, six months before the merger of Hyderabad and Andhra states to form AP .

Even as the Nizam's grandson Nawab Mir Najaf Ali Khan is fighting for compensation for 15,964 acres alleging that the government has not reimbursed the Nizam or his legal heirs, the remaining 7,289 acres continues to remain `missing'.

It is feared that much of the land spread over nine Kancha (total 23 Kancha spread over 23,253 acres) has been either illegally occupied or clandestinely sold away .The government document showing `Kanchajat' (plural of Kancha) belonging to the Nizam VII, has listed both previous and present survey numbers identifying the Kancha along with the locality , extent of each Kancha, taluk and district.

Incidentally, all areas fell under the then Hyderabad district as there was no Rangareddy district when the records were made in early 1950s. The problem lies in pinpointing the exact location today due to the inability to reconcile of old and new revenue records.

" It's a start but a huge task lies ahead. The government should find the land parcels and restore them to the legal heirs," Najaf Ali told TOI.